Ohio History Journal

Dr. B. F. Prince                  453

 

Dr. B. F. Prince, 93, dean of the faculty of Wittenberg

college and affectionately called "The Grand Old Man" at that

institution, acclaimed as the oldest professor in point of years

and active service in the United States and beloved by thousands

of men and women in and out of Springfield, died at 5:15 a. m.

Monday at his home, 644 N. Wittenberg Avenue, following an

illness of one week. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p. m.

Wednesday at a place to be decided later. Burial will be made

in Ferncliff Cemetery.

He was honorary head of the history and political science

department of the college; had served for 55 consecutive years

as chairman of the prudential committee; was treasurer of the

Alumni Endowment Association; for 31 years was a director

of the Ohio Archaeoloical and Historical Society. He was con-

sidered one of the best and most trustworthy authorities on his-

torical matters in Ohio. His two volumes of the history of

Clark County are widely read and contain much valuable in-

formation. He was formerly president of the Clark County

Historical Society and had recently completed a fine history of

Wittenberg College.

The death of Dr. Prince is mourned by rich and poor, the

high and low, for he was a man of lovable character, who always

spoke a kindly word for his fellow-men. His was the service

always of joy, of ministration and of wise counsel. He never

shirked in duty and devoted his life assiduously and earnestly

that others might be benefited. He was for many years a member

of the board of directors of the college. Dr. Prince was a former

president of the Men's Literary Club.

He was born on a farm near Westville, in Champaign County

Dec. 12, 1840. He spent his early days in the toils incident to

the farm life of pioneer days, attending school but a few months

each year.

He entered Wittenberg College as a student in the fall of

1860, a few months before the Civil War actually began. He

was graduated from the College in 1865, receiving a Bachelor

of Arts degree. He was granted a Master of Arts degree in

1868, and in 1891 Wittenberg honored him as a Doctor of Phi-

losophy.

He was reared in a Lutheran family and from the age of 13

he had been deeply interested in that faith. Much of his inspira-

tion also, he often said, came from reading the Lutheran Observer.

He also was wont to remark that although he came to Wittenberg

College to gain an education, he never dreamed that he would be

a teacher there.

454       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

 

He was offered a position in the preparatory department of

the College in 1865 but he did not accept it until the fall of 1866.

Since that time he taught such studies as Greek, Latin, mathe-

matics, political science, economics, sociology and history. He

taught Greek for 30 years.

Dr. Prince married Miss Ellen Sanderson of Springfield on

August 3, 1869. She died February 17, 1911.

He remembered distinctly all of the presidents of Wittenberg

except the first, Dr. Ezra Keller. There have been seven of these

presidents, the present one being Rev. Dr. Rees Edgar Tulloss.

He always said that teaching was to him one of his greatest joys

and that he had never been dissatisfied with his life or his work.

He was always a busy man and he had not only the faculty of

teaching well, but he possessed unusual business ability.

For many years he served as president of the Springfield

Building and Loan Association.

Dr. Prince was injured in 1928, when he was struck by an

automobile skidding on icy streets.

When he first came to college Dr. Prince said he brought

six dozen candles which his mother had made for him to study

by. Coal oil lamps had just been introduced among the students

and the candles were not used.

Springfield, according to Dr. Prince, was then a city of about

7,000. There were very few houses north of Buck Creek. There

was a rickety wooden bridge across that stream at N. Market St.

(now N. Fountain Avenue) and a small foot-bridge a little east

of where the Wittenberg bridge is now.

"We played football then, too," Dr. Prince was wont to com-

ment, "that is, the kind of football which was played then. We

were also accustomed to taking long walks out into the country

almost every morning.

"We didn't get over to Springfield very often, probably about

once a week. However, after the Civil War broke out the stu-

dents were eager for the latest news about the war and they began

to go over to the city about every day."

A large number of Wittenberg students left school to go to

war in 1860 and 1861. In the meantime the students organized

a military company which drilled regularly several times a week.

Dr. Sprecher, then president of Wittenberg, and a number of the

professors drilled with the students.

When Dr. Prince came to Wittenberg there was but one

building on the campus and that was the "Old dorm" or "Old

Wittenberg," as it is known among the old graduates.

Dr. B. F. Prince                  455

 

Dr. Prince had seen Wittenberg grow from a college of one

building to an institution of learning now embodying many build-

ings. He was also treasurer of the College at one time.

It was largely owing to his care and fidelity in the work as

chairman of the prudential committee that Wittenberg's funds

have been so well administered. Dr. Prince served long terms

as a member of the Springfield board of education and the city

council, and had held other civic posts.

"Work" is the best prescription for a long life, according to

Dr. Prince. As campus custodian he made the rounds of all the

college buildings regularly, and as one student expressed it, "it

is doubtful if anywhere in the country there could have been

found a teacher who was so well and favorably known among

such a large number of his former students as was Dr. Prince."

He leaves three daughters, Misses Flora and Grace Prince, at

home; and Mrs. J. C. Easton of 40 E. Ward St.

"The life of Dr. Prince has been intimately interwoven with

the history of Wittenberg College for more than three quarters

of a century," said Dr. Rees E. Tulloss, president of the college.

"During a large portion of that time he occupied a unique position

in the academic and business organization of the institution. For

more than 50 years he was chairman of the Prudential Committee.

In this position and as vice president of the College he has co-

operated in the conduct of the institution during the terms of

office of five presidents of the College. To his wise and cautious

administration of the finances of the institution at various critical

points in her history, it may almost be said that the existence of

the College is due.

"From 1866 to 1928, a period of 62 years, Dr. Prince was a

member of the teaching faculty, during most of which time he

served as head of the Department of History. Dr. Prince's in-

timate knowledge of the activities of the College from a very

early date fitted him peculiarly for the task of writing a history

of the institution, which he finished after his retirement from

active teaching. Dr. Prince possessed an unusual combination of

talents. As a scholar his historical writings were of importance.

As a teacher he commanded, the respect and admiration of many

student generations. As a business administrator he rendered the

College a service the value of which cannot be overestimated.

"His name deserves a place along with the presidents of the

institution. His passing will be mourned by thousands of Wit-

tenberg alumni and former students who loved him as a man,

and esteemed him for his notable service to the institution to

which his life was given."